Remember, the key to a good understanding of the play is to write thorough, thoughtful answers to the questions. When I check the homework, I will note if you did the minimum or if you challenged yourself. I will randomly collect homework to grade, but you receive homework credit every day.
These homework questions should be done in good detail, but they should not be longer than a page handwritten (unless you have large handwriting, in which case write more than a page). You can handwrite or type your answers. Feel free to use the back of your paper.
Reread the sections we read in class at home every night before you do your homework questions. Reread them out loud to better understand the action. When you reread each night, write down questions and comments in your notebook and bring them up in class the next day. Remember, you receive participation points for thoughtful questions and comments in class.
Act 1, Scene 1: no questions
Week of January 11
Act 1, Scene 2: Choose one question: due in class 1/11/10
Reread Scenes 1 and 2 out loud before answering the question you choose.
Question 1 Although Macbeth has not yet appeared, you learn of him from what others say. From your reading of this scene, list two qualities that you think Macbeth possesses. Provide two quotations from the scene for each quality and briefly explain how these lines reflect the quality
Question 2 What does a close reading of this scene imply about the definition of GOOD and EVIL? In this scene, what actions, words, and images are associated with GOOD, with high praise, and with EVIL, with harsh condemnation?
Act 1, Scene 3 Day One: Choose one question, due in class 1/12/10
Reread Scene 3 outloud before answering the question you choose.
Question 1 One critic said that the witchese are "in some sense representative of potentialities within Macbeth." Identify two qualities that the witches' prophecies seem to bring out in Macbeth. Use lines from the scene to support your answer. How do these qualities of Macbeth contrast with the Captain's portrayal of Macbeth in Scene 2?
Question 2 Compare and contrast Macbeth's response to the witches' prophecies to Banquo's. Use lines from the scene to support your answer.
Act 1, Scene 4: Choose one question, due in class 1/13/10
Reread Scene 4 outloud before answering the question you choose.
Question 1: Duncan declares that he cannot tell what people are thinking and feeling by their looks: "There's no art/To find the mind's construction in the face." Do you agree or disagree? Write about a time when you or someone you know could/could not tell about a person from his/her appearance.
Question 2: Translate Macbeth's aside in 1.4.55-60. What resolution to his previous conflict (1.3.143-44) does this suggest? List as many associations as you can with each of the following words: light, black, deep, desires. Suggest as many possibilities as you can for what Macbeth's line "Let not light see my black and deep desires" may mean.
Macbeth's aside in 1.4.55-60
The Prince of Cumberland! that is a step
On which I must fall down, or else o'erleap,
For in my way it lies. Stars, hide your fires, Let not light see my black and deep desires;
The eye wink at the hand; yet let that be
Which the eye fears, when it is done, to see.
Exit.
Act 1, Scene 5: No choice of question
Reread Scene 5 out loud before answering this question.
discussed in class on 1/13/10, with homework due in class on 1/14/10
this worksheet looks at differences between paraphrases of Lady Macbeth's soliloquy in lines 47-54. Provide praise and suggestions for each paraphrase. If you can come up with a better paraphrase, feel free to write one!
In-class work on 1/14/10: discuss/complete this sheet on Act 1, Scenes 4 & 5: macbeth_and_lady.doc; due in class, 1/19/10
Week of January 18
Act 1, Scene 6: No choice of question, due in class, 1/19/10
Reread Scene 6 out loud before answering this question.
Question: In Scene 5, Lady Macbeth said "Look like th' innocent flower, / But be the serpent under 't" (1.5.76-78). Find and copy out two quotations in this scene and explain how they show that she is following her own advice.
Act 1, Scene 7: Choose one question, due in class, 1/20/10
Reread Scene 7 out loud before answering the question you choose.
Question 1: The idea of what it is to be "a man" runs through the play. Make a list of 8 to 12 qualities that you think " a man" should possess. Think about the differences between 2006 and 11th century Scotland. Which of these qualities does Macbeth possess? Support your ideas with at least two quotations from the play so far.
Question 2: Without denying the evil in Macbeth, how could you still call him a good man? Support your answer with quotations from the play. Don't forget to analyze the quotations!
Question 3: What is your judgment of Duncan--as man, as king, based on the whole first act? Consider especially his words and Macbeth and Lady Macbeth's words about him in scenes 6 and 7. Use quotations to support your judgment of Duncan.
In class exercise, 2/11/10: Act 3, Scene 1: What are Macbeth's real thoughts?
Macbeth has evil intentions for Banquo, but he hides them behind apparently well-meaning words. He also mentions several times that he wants Banquo's advice.
Directions: One person should read slowly all Macbeth's words from lines 11-43. The other person should say "false face" every time Macbeth says something insincere.
What does this activity reveal about this short scene? Why is the scene important?
Act 3 and 4 Word Journal assignment--ongoing, instructions are here: act3_4_word_journal.doc
Fall 2009
Winter 2010
Spring 2010
Fall 2009
Winter 2010
- Act 1: Homework questions
- Remember, the key to a good understanding of the play is to write thorough, thoughtful answers to the questions. When I check the homework, I will note if you did the minimum or if you challenged yourself. I will randomly collect homework to grade, but you receive homework credit every day.
These homework questions should be done in good detail, but they should not be longer than a page handwritten (unless you have large handwriting, in which case write more than a page). You can handwrite or type your answers. Feel free to use the back of your paper.Reread the sections we read in class at home every night before you do your homework questions. Reread them out loud to better understand the action. When you reread each night, write down questions and comments in your notebook and bring them up in class the next day. Remember, you receive participation points for thoughtful questions and comments in class.
- Act 1, Scene 1: no questions
- Week of January 11
- Act 1, Scene 2: Choose one question: due in class 1/11/10
- Reread Scenes 1 and 2 out loud before answering the question you choose.
- Question 1 Although Macbeth has not yet appeared, you learn of him from what others say. From your reading of this scene, list two qualities that you think Macbeth possesses. Provide two quotations from the scene for each quality and briefly explain how these lines reflect the quality
- Question 2 What does a close reading of this scene imply about the definition of GOOD and EVIL? In this scene, what actions, words, and images are associated with GOOD, with high praise, and with EVIL, with harsh condemnation?
- Act 1, Scene 3 Day One: Choose one question, due in class 1/12/10
- Reread Scene 3 outloud before answering the question you choose.
- Question 1 One critic said that the witchese are "in some sense representative of potentialities within Macbeth." Identify two qualities that the witches' prophecies seem to bring out in Macbeth. Use lines from the scene to support your answer. How do these qualities of Macbeth contrast with the Captain's portrayal of Macbeth in Scene 2?
- Question 2 Compare and contrast Macbeth's response to the witches' prophecies to Banquo's. Use lines from the scene to support your answer.
- Act 1, Scene 4: Choose one question, due in class 1/13/10
- Reread Scene 4 outloud before answering the question you choose.
- Question 1: Duncan declares that he cannot tell what people are thinking and feeling by their looks: "There's no art/To find the mind's construction in the face." Do you agree or disagree? Write about a time when you or someone you know could/could not tell about a person from his/her appearance.
- Question 2: Translate Macbeth's aside in 1.4.55-60. What resolution to his previous conflict (1.3.143-44) does this suggest? List as many associations as you can with each of the following words: light, black, deep, desires. Suggest as many possibilities as you can for what Macbeth's line "Let not light see my black and deep desires" may mean.
- Macbeth's aside in 1.4.55-60
- The Prince of Cumberland! that is a step
Exit.On which I must fall down, or else o'erleap,
For in my way it lies. Stars, hide your fires,
Let not light see my black and deep desires;
The eye wink at the hand; yet let that be
Which the eye fears, when it is done, to see.
- Reread Scene 7 out loud before answering the question you choose.
- Question 1: The idea of what it is to be "a man" runs through the play. Make a list of 8 to 12 qualities that you think " a man" should possess. Think about the differences between 2006 and 11th century Scotland. Which of these qualities does Macbeth possess? Support your ideas with at least two quotations from the play so far.
- Question 2: Without denying the evil in Macbeth, how could you still call him a good man? Support your answer with quotations from the play. Don't forget to analyze the quotations!
- Question 3: What is your judgment of Duncan--as man, as king, based on the whole first act? Consider especially his words and Macbeth and Lady Macbeth's words about him in scenes 6 and 7. Use quotations to support your judgment of Duncan.
Act 1, REVIEW: in-class review of Act 1, with "headlines" exercise, maybe 1/21/10? in_class_review_act1_macbeth.doc- Week of February 1
- Essay assignment, distributed on 2/3/10: essay1_character_analysis.pdf
- Character analysis/evidence review, distributed on 2/3/10: char_analysis_evidence_review.pdf
- Picture of an essay, distributed on 2/3/10: picture_of_essay1.pdf
- Week of February 8
- In class exercise, 2/10/10: Oral Peer Edit and Self Edit Directions oral_peer_edit.doc
- In class exercise, 2/10/10: apostrophes and possessives: apostrophes_possessives_ii.doc
BEGIN ACT 3!Spring 2010